I remember Aamir Khan mentioning in an ndtv interview that he wanted his film to win an oscar not so much because he considered it as a
hallmark of cinematic recognition but because it would be terrific for indian cinema in that it would open hitherto unknown 'business territories' for the trade.

While on Anurag Kashyap, here is a gem of a piece written by Abbas Tyrewalla on their experiences with the Indian censor board. Funny yet very moving. Shekhar will probably relate to this.
http://www.sulekha.com/expressions/column.asp?cid=138492

What particularily intrigues me is the assumption in this controversy that the Jury in India is infinitely inferior to the Jury or whovever votes at the Oscars.

Shekhar, you are right. The difference is out here in the west they are so full of confidence and even our own Jury members suffer from some sort of complex, and feel it necessary to 'prove' themself.

Talking about regional films, you are right again. We hear about our regional film only after they make it in the west. How many of us non-filmi people had heard of Gurinder Chaddah?

Hello Shekhar,
I have always been a big fan of yours.
Your views on a wide range of topics are always really thought provoking & original.
Im eagerly awaiting your proposed next project -Paani & am expecting something really great from it.By the way,just to let you know that i specially loved the film MASOOM much more than your other more celebrated works. I thought it was really touching , sensitive & intuitive stuff.
Which brings me to expressing my views on the current controversy regarding indias entry for oscar.
I agree with you that India's oscar entry has beeen given far too much importance than is due .As rightly pointed out by you , nobody really cares about sitting through & critically judging foreign films & lobbying is a known hard reality.
However ,beyond this premise, the choice of paheli ,does raise eyebrows.
I would also welcome your views on indias award functions like filmfare(although I do appreciate that you might prefer to keep some views to yourselves to avoid controversy or ruffling feathers,haha)
im afraid this is a handywork of biased lobbies which are alas so strong in india in film award circles.
the excuses against black seem to be just mere excuses.
It is a film in indian language, by an indian maker, with indian actors.
Part of it is an adaptation , but then there have always been adaptations for eg the umpteen ones of bride & prejudice recently.That shouldnt make it ineligible.Same holds true for the contention that parts of it is in English. That doesnt change the fact, that is a very well-made movie.
Parts of it do appear over the top but the situations & characterisations of the actors justifies this over the top approach.One of the lead actors(amitabh) is shown to be frustrated &unstable and thats exactly what he portays.
As for reflecting cultural ethos, well, thats nonsensical.By that argument, films from Spain should have bull-fighting, france-lesbianism, afghanistan-osama bin laden.Using this as a garb for national identity isnt right.
I dont care much about oscar-foreign fim category, anyhows.I think too much importance is unduly given to it.As per bollywood & indian actors in the west, i feel their impact is too much exaggerated in indian media.Frankly, Nobody really cares about them other than indian /asian expats.WIll any mainstream hollywood maker offer a real mainstream titlle role to an indian actor ( other than those typical stereotypical roles meant for indians?
Now coming to another issue of biased lobbies. it reminds me to how Shah rukh khan has made a mockery of domestic award functions like filmfare which now seems to have lost the little credibility they had. He wins filmfare every alternate year, in one category or another.If doesnt win in a main cateogery,new ones (like power award) are made to give him an award. There is no doubt in anyones mind, that he has got much more awards than he will ever deserve.
But disappointing is that his influence can be seen even in the so-called respectable juries like the one selecting for oscars. It was lucky for shah rukh that this jury consisted of frustrated ,disgruntled ,sadistic souls like vinod pande who have their own personal vendettas or biased agendas to further through the film selections.
Wonder what views does Mr Shekhar Kapoor have on this issue. Your views shall be really welcome & appreciated.Its a pleasure to be getting a chance to interact with yourself.

Thanks for your thoughts, Shekhar. As I commented on Rohit's blog, I think it is totally ridiculous that the Indian jury tried to choose the oscar nominee on the basis of how "indian" the film was rather than how good it was.

Many people are disgruntled with the state of cinema. But at least in the U.S. they have managed to come up with things like IFC, and Sundance to counter Hollywood. Is there any such movement happening in India? Life's a lot easier now with digital. It would be nice if the next generation totally went out on a limb and did their own thing.

I see a Bollywood film at the rate of once in 4 years and have yet to come out feeling like it was worth the effort. I had a hard time staying awake in Lagaan. The so-called art films are either extremely boring or not truly insightful (like Fire). The success of Indian cinema is purely at the vaudeville level. In terms or artistic achievement it's near zero. Indian cinema died in the 60's.

indian cinema adapted to an art form of the Parsi theatre, which it self was an adaptation of the travelling folk theatre called the Nautanki.

If you want to go further, the nautanki in itself was based on the art form of the 'Ramlila' or perhaps the other way round. I am not sure which.

The Ramlila is told over 9 odd days and the local village folk gather every night to see a theatrical rendition of the story of Ram, Sita and laxman. Traditionally the local male villagers perform all the roles , even the female ones. The theatrical production is intersperced every night with local jokes, a bit of song and dance and variety entertainment, and then the serious telling of the Ramlila continues.

So not unusual to see Hanuman suddenly stop in the middle of the production and tell a few jokes at the expense of his neighbour.

And so the Indian film contiues this genre'. The audience caught on to it - and the tradition has continued succesfully for 65 years. It is a very very particualr form of cinema. Traditional chinese films used to be like that too.

In a way it is very Brechtian.

shekhar

Am willing to post a blog

Frankly I do not watch any Desi movies So I am not judging Indian movies.
My Point is why Indian movie makers are obsessed about Oscar.
I mean Oscars are meant for Hollywood industry and even foreign film will be judged based on Hollywood standards. It means European movies have very good chance of getting it.
Besides No body from Hollywood cares about getting awards in other country except European coutries.Indian moviemaker should have same attitude.

Sometimes I really don't understand what the people eat before sitting to decide what will be Indian entry for oscar.

Second, when that movie even doesn't come in last 10 or 15 they say who care? So If nobody care then why keep sending entries for the oscar.

Typical bollywood movie doesn't fit for Oscar format. What do you think? Will it win if best oscar movie comes as an entry for famous but useless Indian award like 'Filmfare' or any other. I don't think so.

Nobody in India cares for the movie like 'Black Friday' and that's the reality.

Just read the article posted by Pawan. Maybe it's time India got rid of the censor board? They should just have a ratings system like the US. Market forces are strong enough to regulate movie content without having to have a censor board on top of it all.

Divya, you had hard time waking up during Lagaan?? Amazing you are interested in spending time commenting on this art.

Paheli is a simple, straight-forward movie with nothing amazing or wow effect. This is from Indian perspective, but it could differ for the western audience, so if it goes to Oscar then it has a good chance, but I still doubt if they'd be fooled by the charisma of Indian film-making. Sure, the movie tried to revive something old, something we have not seen in a long time, but still it lacked wow effect which brings people back to see it again and again. But then again, they pick odd movies for Oscars anyway, so who cares about Oscar anyway.

Dear Mr. Kapur,

Dont want to sound repititive, so would just like to say that I agree 100% with 'Curious''s comments and to some extent to Dalbir's and Jignesh's comments.

Also, the jury was considering one Marathi and one Malayali film for the Oscar (in addition to the various Hindi ones). Read it on some online newspaper.

Thanks,
Sonali

Dear Mr. Kapur,

I love the point you made about Satyajit Ray. I think you are right.

Thanks,
Sonali

I like to watch hindi movies...but sadly in India movies are made to make more and more money not for the love of the medium....
Shekhar would love to read your blog on movie making etc...i would like to know as a director do you want to work on your own story or would like to make a movie on a book.
There is a very sweet book by Atiya Hussain "Sunlight on a broken column"..i always wished you could make a movie on that book...atleast now i can convey my wish to you..through this blog
thanks,

Shekhar: I am a fish-out-of-water on this post, but slowly gaining at least a beginning feeling for the media an filmmaking activiites coming out of India, but.....for me, it is like being 18 months old and learning my first words in response to the world-of-information I garner from the Intentblog.

That much of the high-tech media world is sometimes foreign to me--well,....I am an alien in my own country--so bear with me, as you have so patiently done!!!!

This post makes me consider what you all "see emerging" on the global platform for the media industry, and specifically the film industry, worldwide.

In light of your comments about both Bollywood and Hollywood, since the onset of the Intentblog, do you think we will soon see a worldwide "film festival" that is born from the likes of Holly/Bollywood, Cannes, Toronto, Sundance, etc. etc.--that gives a kind of crucible for the best of all of these somewhat culture-specific festivals to unite at a new level, above even the best of these, to establish something along the lines of filmmaking collarborations that can, and will, induce a "DreamWorks" model that works with themes emanating from the first hints of a "unified global theme?"

Do you, or some of those here on the Intentblog who work, in one aspect or another, within the film/media industries, perceive anything along these lines starting to materialize--something completely new and different you've never "seen" before????

Curious, what your wildest and most creative "imaging" would wish to see occur, in the future to come, on Shakespeare's "all the world's a stage"-type of scenario??? Dave

PS Shekhar: I couldn't help but add this: In view of your efforts to work with creative filmmaking efforts to bring forward Epics about the lives of people like the Buddha, Rumi, etc.--it crosses my mind to suggest a book to you that has verily been the most moving of all epic journeys that I have ever come across; "The Nine Faces of Christ."

I would also call it to be one of the greatest romances possible ever lived--except like the preface claims for the reader--the journey of the reader's own story.

There is a particular section, in view of what you said about "The Ramlila," that you would be highly inspired by the experiences and lessons supposedly garnered by Jesus (Jeshua, Joseph-bar-Joseph), as he learned from the greatest of Hindi Masters, Bomachari Romanchana, I believe during his 18th-21st+- years, culminating with his two years at the Cave of Elephanta--considered to be the oldest "Holy Temple" in existence at the time of this initiate's training there---so old was it at the time that it's uses were shrouded in antquity and it's age estimated by the polish of the caves floor surfaces being smoothed from the feet and hands of the countless initiates that had passed through Elephanta's initiations over the millenium.

Elephanta is possibly surpassed in age, as a place of "holy initiation," only by the hidden and elusive cave in Australia whose location is known only to the few remaining Aboriginal Holy leaders who even know where it is (Richard Thomas may know something more on this line of information).

The book I mentioned was first published in India by Darshana Intl. in 1972--it gives a fabulous sense of just how deep does India spiritual heritage truly run. Dave

Black Friday ..very interesting movie , the music was awesome though have not managed to catch the movie

Well , abt paheli ,
Seen the movie , It was nothing but a triangle romance story with a ghost , a wife and husband.

The movie loses out to the point when Mr Bachann enters as a Wizard !

Shekhar,

'Hoo ha' says it all. I agree entirely with Jignesh. What does the Oscar have to do with Indian films, is it really a benchmark? From the little I have read anyway, very little, even there it's a matter of lobbying. Besides when we talk of Bollywood taking over as Hollwood declines, I find it difficult to comprehend why this event and it's entry makes every front page in papers here.

The point about regional films is most relevant too.

I am not a movie buff but this I will say - have seen three Hindi films Munnabhai MBBS, Iqbal and Parineeta in the last two years - and they were certainly an eye opener for me. Much prefer them to the regular fare we get here on HBO, Star Movies, Hallmark etc. - generally bloody, violent and spooky. The opinion of a movie non-entity for what its worth.

Consider that most of the Members of the Academy that actually have time (but perhaps not the ability) to sit through a 2.5 hour film, retired 20 years ago and are approaching their 80's. Those that are working certainly do not have time to go see a foriegn language film in a theatre , unless of course someone, or the press, have reccomended it in unusually strong terms..

Shekhar it is this analyis on the state of affairs at the oscars which to me is the crux of the matter. It is presently not important which film has been selected and the propriety of that decision. Because in the light of the above quote what difference would it have made anyways.

The question that arises is how do we change the scenario? To back off and say oscar? what oscar? is like a case of grapes being sour. It is a fact that Indians, as in every other field ,do make great films. It is also a fact that The oscars are a competitive and prestigious awards. So why shy away? If Indians can compete for the Olympics and feel greatly rewarded if they emerge winners in any category then the Oscars can be looked upon as a coveted prize too. Indian Films must compete with the best. So back again to the problem of getting the right amount of lobbying.

This, to my mind is a problem but cannot be looked upon as a deterrent forever. We may not win this year and the next and so on. But some day they will have to sit up and take notice. Alfred Hitchcock never won an oscar in his life , but his films always competed. Steven Spielberg was ignored for a long time before he was honoured. I am not making a case of giving undue importance to Mr Oscar but on the contrary making light of the issue of participation.

I have been closely connected with Indian cinema since my childhood and therefore feel very strongly about the talent in India and the potential we have. You know better than anyone else the constraints our films are made under. Not just the budget, but the choice of subject has to cater to the classe and the masses. The dichotomy is that commerce dictates the decisions which art should have been dictating to. To keep a balance and still create meaningful cinema is tightropewalking.If Indian mind has been the initiator o philosophy, art, science, spirituality, how can we be defunct in this area?We need time to grow and evolve and once done, all these so called elitist snobs who look down on our films will be proudly proclaiming parentage, as is the wont of the world.

The film "Black Friday " which you mentioned , may definitely have been everything you described it to be. But a film based on disturbing reality,best forgotten, is not my idea of cinema after a hard days work. This is the domain Of documentaries. The inherent nature of cinema is to entertain. Art imitates life, so one cannot escape reality, but how can a film like black Friday therefore be your hypothetical choice for the oscars?

We have a lot to offer to the world through our films. Shekhar. People like you cannot give up on Indian cinema. We may have a long way to go but why retract even before beginning?We did not win Beauty pageants for a long time before Indian Womanhood evolved in the spectacular way it has and the rest is history.

Maybe we are looking at a day when our films will be eagerly awaited, watched and assessed.Wishful thinking? no, just futuristic.

Do we (really) care about the film that will represent India at the OScars?

Probably not.

Should we?

Yes.

Simply because, whether we like it or not, this is the way a (potentially) wide audience can be earned for Indian cinema.

Now there are two problems with this (earning a wider audience for Indian cinema):

1. The largest percentage of popular Indian cinema is unimaginative, derivative (often examples of outright plagiarism) and uninspired.

2. Not many filmmakers seem to grasp the 'moving' part of moving pictures. It seems that they are all inspired to achieve a balance between over-the-top and spoon-feeding audiences by explaining rather than showing.

Both problems stem from a lack of genuine cinematic education (for the media, the audience and the industry itself) and the overbearing presence of financiers/investors who do not understand the concept of investing in the art form.

I'm sure several of the moneyed folk in India will rush to buy any available Tyeb Mehta canvas now that a high value has been set for a piece by him.

I'm equally sure that several mediocre writers will break through the getting-a-first-novel-published barrier in Vikram Chandra's million-dollar advance slipstream.

That's the problem.

When a shepherd arrives to lead the sheep in directions other than those prescribed by producers/dsitributors/investors seeking the amalgamation of Manmohan Desai with Quentin Tarantino is when Indian cinema will be able to stand up and be counted with the best.

Until then, the unsolved Paheli will be, how did a visually-striking but soulless and insensitive film like Black become the yardstick for measuring good Indian cinema.

We should be confident of our own critics and awards. Why does East wants to make their own movies but want awareds from West? I don't get it. What is the charm other than a fact that you'd be viewed by everyone in the world? Is that "I am king of the world" type of ego?

Unless the Oscar jury consists of Eastern judges, there is no point in getting yourself aclaimed by the West.

I recommend we improve our own awards. Bollywood spend ton of dough on making movies, the final product some time comes out ego free. Why not spend money on institutionalizing and advancing one award? Of course it isn't possible with corporations trying to eat the pie. Just look around the award shows in the country and see what we have more (ego) and what we're missing (pride).

I refuse to believe Indians don't have technical and aesthetical capability to produce award shows of Oscar calibre, if only someone pays enough attention to this important aspect of the industry. Now don't even ask me what I think of awards shows you produce over there.

Shekhar -- I once read an interview of yours where you were asked about India's entry to the Oscars that year, 'Jeans' and you said that perhaps 'Satya' would have been a better choice. Based on that, I rented 'Satya' and I thank you for it because it is now one of my favourite Indian films. So I will check out 'Black Friday' based on your recommendation.

Elvis, I agree with you about Black. I think the audience (everyone included) are just awed by the technical excellence they have seen lately (Paheli and Devdas included). Sure it takes talent to rightly use the excellent machinery to create something that looks good but once they are no more awed by it (because they may see D. Dhawan use the same equipments to duplicate and over duplicate wasted reels) they will then come back to Y. Chopra or Shekhar providing something substantive with or without technical beauty.

Until then, let the evolution take its course in Indian cinema.

You hold that guy RGV however you can, give him whatever he wants, he is the savior I'm telling you, you don't want to waste that talent. I am willing to tolerate ten Sarkars from him if he only makes me one Satya and/or continues to churn out talented young directors like he had lately.

I agree with those that say that Indian films should compete at the Oscars. My point, however, is that I agree with Shekhar that there is too much 'hoo ha' about it. The way I see it, the Oscars are predominantly for American movies and film makers. As far as I know there is only one category, the foreign language film, for international films.

On the other hand I feel the Cannes Film Festival is truly international in character and I would give that more emphasis. I do not recollect witnessing the same the same degree of debate and discussion about that in the media. I would have thought that it being open to international events would make it more representative and worth competing in. All competition, as far as I am concerned, is good.

"Black" has one thing and only one thing going for it... ravishing cinematography of Ravi Chandran.

But the rest of it was pure "bull" to put it mildly. Anyone with the least awareness of disabled people would realise that Sanjay Leela Bhansali, in the company of AB and Rani, made a mockery of disabled individuals and the people who work with them.

The worst thing about Black, was that many many people thought it was good cinema. I am happy to remain undemocratic and isolated in my opinion.

Don't take me for the racist issues but movies from the south are clearly being denied by these melon heads who choose Indian entry for Oscars. Thanks god that didn't send Hum Tum!!! If 'Swades' was selected, I would have been happy because it is a movie that India needs now. I was so amazed to see sucha good movie from the crappy Bollywood scenario.

Shekhar,

Saying that I agree or your knowledge about Cinema is terrific is so lame. So let me start by saying that the Panels all over the world, have had a problem judging the fims. Neither Deniro got the award for Taxi Driver nor did AB for Deewar. But the kind of degradation we have seen in the recent times is really frightening. Fimlfare has lost its credibility so completely and after this year's National Awards, one cannot believe in their judgement either. Something is surely wrong!

As you said, the regional cinema is certainly of much higher quality than the mainstream. Its no wonder that Adoor, Satyajit and Ritwik Ghatak all made better cinema than the rest. The reason, as you said is the deeper connection with the roots. But here in India, we try harder to go global instead. To add global appeal through superior quality is one thing and to impose it through bits of English language is another (Hazaaron Kh.. was a bad attemt at that!)

Coming to Oscars, I couldn't agree more. We must not give a damn to Indian Cinema. If we make quality Cinema, sooner or later the world will turn to us. There is an example of Iranian cinema which is so much better than ours for they refuse to give that global appeal to it. The academy simply refuses to accept the quality of cinema around the world. They do not even consider the greatest of movies in their Best Film category and award movies on Hollywoodean merit which sucks bigtime. A movie like Satya dwarfs the entire range of Scorcese movies but Hollywood wouldn't even blink at it. You comment about Ray's 'Pather Panchali' is so true. Oscars, to me, are worse than Wisden that judgest players on the basis of their performances in England.

Paheli was a ridiculous choice as I have seen it. It's simply a poorly directed movie, unworthy of any meritorious felicitation. But if Saif can be the best actor, why can't Paheli go to Oscars. It might even be voted the best movie this year. I am really curious about the jury judging our movies. I would surely like to know your take on it. Please post about it.

When we have people like Adoor in this country, how can our representative Cinema that earns the felicitation be so wretched at every front? I can't belive that the national awards jury can give such a mindless verdict! Why are we not interested in having the Shekhar Kapurs and Adoors on the jury instead? And what has gone wrong with Yash Chopra (the one who made Deewar!!!) and Mahesh Bhatt (who made Saaraansh, Arth and Daddy!!)? Why have they undergone such degradation? Other than Swamp marketing and the urge to make money and being successful, is there some other hidden factor contributing?

I'd be really glad if you read and answer!

-- Akshaya

Correction: (Second line, third para) We must not give a damn to Oscars!

-- Akshaya

Oh common, what is wrong with Y.Chopra?? The guy can make you cry, love, laugh, all at the same time while making money, so what is wrong with this formula?? When was the last time you saw anything like Dilwale...I bet you didn't since Diwaar. And what is so wrong with VeerZara in the year 2005? Give him some break, he is a genius.

Mahesh, I don't know. He's okay. Most likely lost his touch with reality.

I just watched Deepa Mehta interviewed on "City TV" on her new film "Water" which of course is banned in India. The main acresses name is Lisa Ray- yes she is south asian. Apparently the little girl nor Lisa Ray in the film know much Hindi at all.
And Peter Russel(stand up) was here this week too-yes he is south asian too.

I am probably in the right India here in Canada to get involved in real film because films such as these are being released in the Vancouver Film Festival, thank God. Well it's getting there...just not completely the right idea yet.

Off topic-The other day while chatting with a man in India on msn I told him that I was more Indian than he was even though I wasn't born in India and he was. He prides himself for working in risk management/environmental health safety but has no clue or care for issues raised by for example the EHS issues Coca Cola production has created in India.

Your prediction about film becoming more rich in south asian and other cultures is unfolding and it's great.

Never blogged before and probably never will again....but just want to say that I don't think an Indian film will ever win at the Oscars in my lifetime. Too much song-and-dance, too stereotyped in content, and faaaaar too long! No-one out there could keep up with the sub-plots and sub,sub-plots. I may be wrong ....I haven't seen an Indian film in years and for what it's worth, this is just my own humble opinion.

We may pretend that the Oscars don't matter or say that we should ignore them. But that's not going to happen because of three reasons:
1. The Hollywood audiences by and large don't watch Indian movies…but the Indians, especially the elite, the thought leaders, watch Hollywood movies in large numbers.

2. No awards are perfect or can please everyone. And Hollywood has its own share of turnips when it comes to giving awards. But they have a transparent method of selection which have remained constant over the years, and there is a fairly clear understanding about what the awards stand for. That is why they are respected by the world film fraternity. (Talking about the Best Foreign Film Award, tell me which filmmaker worth his salt would not like to be in the company of Bergman, Kurosawa and Almodovar , just to mention a few of the winners in the category?) That's why they are coveted. and what's significant, winning an Oscar adds a few million dollars to the film's box office kitty. Which of the Indian awards can claim that? when you see "Winner of 5 Filmfare awards" in a Hindi film's ad, does anyone give a damn?

3. The Hollywood filmmakers hardly watch any Indian films or base their films on them. But all leading Indian filmmakers not only watch dollops of Hollywood films but also shamelessly rip off ideas, scenes, or the entire script when making their films. Out of the last 6 films of Yashraj films, India's biggest and most respected production house, 3 are remakes of Hollywood films ( Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi - My Best Friends' Wedding, Hum Tum - When Harry Meets Sally, Salaam Namaste - Nine months). The percentage would be higher for filmmakers like Mahesh Bhatt or Vikram Bhatt. So if you say, Since Hollywood makers are not interested in Filmfare Awards, why should Indian filmmakers be interested in the Oscars, you ashould also turn around around ask, Since Hollywood filmmakers are not interested in remaking our films why should we remake theirs? The fact is, there is no doubt as to who looks up to whom. Bombay is called Bollywood and Hollywood is not called Hombay. When Indian filmmakers set the standard for international filmmaking, creating new genres, inventing new cinematic languages that the world follows, , making great films in drama, romance, action, comedy, musicals, historicals, science fiction, horror and animation, then rest assured the Oscars would lose their sheen. Until then, it might be just a case of sour grapes.

Well said Utkal.

I know Mr. Kapur has been quoted as saying that the real power centre of the future for the movies and mass entertainment is Asia and he may be right (it's not rocket science really when you consider that over a third of the world's population resides in China and India). What hasn't been addressed though, is the fact that Hollywood and all its ancilliaries are already well-equipped to exploit that market as it matures.

There was the famous "when Spider-man takes off his mask he could be a Chinese actor" (or words to that effect) quote. This is not necessary because Tobey Maguire can just as easily (for a million or two more) record a Mandarin dialogue track, which should be enough to satiate that market.

We don't need Indian or Chinese actors to take on Western characters. We need Indian characters to be allowed to play a (non-cliche) part in global productions. When the Indian dude isn't just a grocery store manager in the American superhero fable and the Chinese guy does not run the East LA chapter of the Triads in some other substance-free confection is when it will be time for those markets to take pride in their achievements.

The truth remains that cult hits are being made global mega-hits by Hollywood insiders. So Sarah Michele Gellar fronts The Grudge to a US$ 100-million plus gross while Urmila Matondkar sinks a woefully inept The Eye-ripoff.

Sure Dark Water sank and there's no telling whether Scorcese's version of Infernal Affairs will capture the intensity and spark of the Hong Kong original but it's clear that (periodically) Hollywood tries different things.

Conversely, the more Bollywood pretends to change, the more it remains the same (Salaam Namaste anyone?)

There seems to be little point talking about the strength of an industry based on the number of products it puts out. Nobody really cares about knock-offs in any industry (except to stamp them out so as to retain the value of the originals) and there is no evidence that the world will take notice of the rubbish that the Indian film industry puts out in the name of entertainment.

Be it Indian media or members of the film fraternity, a large portion of our work is contextualised by comparing it to western works. Which clearly indicates that the 'industry' has a serious fixation with all things Hollywood to the extent that any (and every) production featuring a Western name on its credit list (be it producer, director or actor) is heralded as a Hollywood production.

You won't hear or read about award ceremonies for the Best Nike Shox rip-off where the makers are justifying their reverse engineering of a shoe because their customers cannot afford (or do not want to use) the original. Yet we seem to be clinging to the value of our award ceremonies like Rose on that raft that Jack would not get on (See? I'm doing it too!).

If you really care so little about the goras, wouldn't you want to keep all your questionable achievments quiet until something real comes of any of it?

We've been served mass entertainment produced in Hollywood where the bad guy is Indian, Pakistani, Arab, Chinese, Korean or Japanese but where is the globally-successful widely released Asian entertainment that details the workings of a contemporary American or Western baddie?

I'm not talking cardboard cutouts.

I'm asking whether anybody here would be able to get a greelight on a film in which a large (fictitious or otherwise) American corporation is the 'bad guy' and the good guys are Asian.

Not for a limited engagement in some 'blue states.' Not merely for the 'festival circuit.'

Wide release.

If not, the white shadow will continue to stretch long and wide and our pretending that we're independent is no different from the machines allowing the humans to think that they have free will.

i have read Black Friday, and was quite looking forward to seeing the celuloid version when i heard about the ban. completely ridiculous. if the book can get sold openly, why stop the movie? in the US, a certain MR. Micheal Moore has openly writing 2 books about his country is being compromised by the highest officails of the land and there is no stopping him. he clearly traces the history of relationship between Osama and the Bush family over decades, both in his books and in his documentaries and, hello, no sound. has anyone in India heard of freedom of speech and expression. i remember studying about in school as an important part of the indian constitution. so whats with our censor board? you need to go back to school..... no, let me re-phrase that - you need to go to school. going back would be for people who have been there in the first place. you are so ignorant that i am sure you have never seen the front side of a school in your life. i know your excuse for this action - trying to protect minorities etc., etc. but you know what, give people a chance........ and you folks just keep an open mind!! too much to ask i guess!!